W34D2 - Persuasion
W34D4 - Ethics

W34D3 - Values

"What is more, I consider everything a loss because
of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider
them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness
that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—
yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow,
attaining to the resurrection from the dead" - Philippians 3:8-11.

There is no more brilliant writing in the New Testament than Paul's letter to his favorite church in Philippi. In it, he repeatedly explains his concept of leadership and the values that go with it. In this passage, Paul acknowledged that he experienced some loss in return for gaining Christ, but he expressed no regret. He renounced any attempts at or gains from self-righteousness and determined that only benefits in Christ really mattered. He also confessed that he lived in the power of resurrection life as he was suffering in this life and looking forward to the life to come in his resurrection from the dead. Every leader should have a life philosophy and blueprint for living just like Paul as he decribed in this letter and passage.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Your Step today is to examine your thinking about the themes raised in this passage along with how they are playing out in your life. Especially look at two of them: suffering and loss. There are no guarantees that your leadership will be successful and without pain. Are you prepared to risk losing what you worked for as you pursue God's will? Are you willing to suffer for His sake as a leader? Are you carrying out your plans or His as you lead?

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